Catholic-Lutheran, Catholic-Orthodox and Lutheran-Orthodox theological Tuesday encounters in the Spring 2015: January 20, March 3 and May 5.

Authority in the Church - Catholic, Lutheran and Orthodox perspectives

With the Finnish Ecumenical Council and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland's Office for Theology, the Studium Catholicum is arranging three Theological Tuesday encounters on January 20, March 3 and May 5.

Seminar I on January 20:The ultimate source of authority in the Church - can we agree on a binding Christian teaching?

Time: January 20, 2015, at 14–16Place: At the parish hall of the German congregation in Helsinki, Bernhardinkatu 4

Bishop Matti Repo (Luth.) and Prof. Antoine Levy OP (Cath) will be discussing The ultimate source of authority in the Church - can we agree on a binding Christian teaching? Moderator is Protopresbyter Heikki Huttunen (Orth).

Seminar II on March 3:Primacy of honor and concrete service of Authority

Seminar III on May 5:The role of the universal communion among bishops (Pentarchy) in the service of Authority

Bishop Teemu Sippo SCJ (Cath.) and Protopresbyter Heikki Huttunen, (Orth.) will discuss The role of the universal communion among bishops (Pentarchy) in the service of Authority. A representative of the Lutheran Church will be moderator.

ἵνα πάντες ἓν ὦσιν - Ut unum sint – Että he olisivat yhtä

As the starting point for this series of three seminars serves the Faith and Order convergence document The Church: Towards a Common Vision. The document raises up the ecclesiologically relevant convergence, which has already been achieved in various multilateral and bilateral theological dialogues. One of the still remaining questions, which still needs further elaboration is the question of “Authority” in the Church, which has close links with the questions regarding normative teaching, oversight and the universal ministry of unity. Through this series of reflective encounters we aim to give space for open discussion in order to give impulses for the official ecumenical work between the churches and the inner discussions within the churches.Authority in the Church and its exerciseSignificant steps towards convergence on authority and its exercise have been recorded in various bilateral dialogues. Differences continue to exist between churches, however, as to the relative weight to be accorded to the different sources of authority, as to how far and in what ways the Church has the means to arrive at a normative expression of its faith, and as to the role of ordained ministers in providing an uthoritative interpretation of revelation. Yet all churches share the urgent concern that the Gospel be preached, interpreted and lived out in the world humbly, but with compelling authority. May not the seeking of ecumenical convergence on the way in which authority is recognized and exercised play a creative role in this missionary endeavour of the churches?- The Church, para. 48–51